The report of blows in Parliament on Monday night during voting to consider the Electronic Communications Tax, (E-Levy) proposed by the government in its 2022 budget, under a certificate of urgency dominates the headlines of Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Graphic reports that the Parliament on Monday night turned unruly during voting to consider the Electronic Communications Tax, (E-Levy) proposed by the government in its 2022 budget, under a certificate of urgency.
The parliamentarians from opposing sides of the house were at each other’s throat, following an attempt by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (NPP, Bekwai), who was presiding over proceedings, to vacate his seat momentarily to enable him join in the head count voting.
Joe Osei Owusu had said he would yield his seat to the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah (Independent, Fomena), while he (Osei Owusu) was out to be counted and thereafter return to resume his seat.
But members of the Minority side vehemently protested the procedure and said Joe Osei Owusu cannot vote as the presiding speaker. And when eventually he attempted to carry through his decision, some members of the minority attempted to seize his chair and warned he would not return to it to preside over the rest of proceedings.
That action also drew some members of the Majority to engage their colleagues, leading to some members actually throwing blows.
The sharply divided house was following through with a recommendation of the house’s Finance Committee to consider the e-levy under a certificate of urgency.
The 25-member committee had voted 13 for the e-levy and 12 against, with the chairman of the committee voting to tilt the process when voting had tied at 12 each.
During a voice vote at the plenary, there was no distinct direction of which side had carried the vote, leading to a resort to division to resolve the vote. It was during the head count to conclude the process that the whole confusion erupted.
The newspaper says that Ghana has initiated a temporary travel restriction on all travelers from Israel and South Korea.
The temporary restriction is for 14 days, beginning December 20, 2021, for both countries.
Apart from that, a travel ban has been imposed on all travelers to and from Malta, beginning December 20, 2021, due to the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
A statement from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration issued on Friday, December 17, 2021, said Ghana does not recognize any of the Covid-19 vaccine certificates from Malta.
“To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to state that the general public should take not of the above and adhere to it accordingly,” it said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana wishes to inform the general public that the Government of Ghana has initiated a temporary travel restriction on all travelers arriving from Israel from Monday, 20th December, 2021 for a period of 14 days, except in exceptional humanitarian cases or during official travels.
Permission would have to be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in exceptional cases.
To this end the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to state that the general public should take note of the above and adhere to it accordingly.
Israel on its part recently placed Ghana on the Red list of countries with the highest risk on its health travel notices and restrictions. The lists are updated and revised with infection rates.
Travel to a country on the Israel red (highest-risk) list is banned for Israeli citizens and permanent residents unless they have permission from the Exceptions Committee.
The Graphic also reports that the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Stephanie Sullivan, has said the US sees enormous potential to grow that country’s franchise brands in Ghana.
Subsequently, it looks forward to working with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Ghana to enable the environment in Ghana for that industry to thrive.
Mrs Sullivan said this when she joined executive of Amcham to open the new offices and resource centre of the chamber at East Legon, in Accra, on Friday.
“An example of this partnership was on display just last week when AmCham, together with the US Embassy, launched a new committee focused on developing the franchise industry in Ghana,” she said.
Franchising, according to the US Ambassador, “enhances community prosperity by providing small business ownership opportunities, competitive wages, skills training, along with jobs and the career growth of individuals — from entry level to management.
It gives Ghanaians the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder, too. U.S. franchise brands are focused on ensuring their local partners are supported by world-class training and market development.”
“I witnessed and tasted this firsthand last week when I attended the relaunch of the Pizza Hut franchise here in Ghana by the Melcom Group of Companies,” she said.
“As locally owned businesses, franchises tap local resources and are more likely to give back to their communities,” she added.
In congratulating the chamber for its leap, she said: “AmCham Ghana has its eye on the future as it looks to position itself for success in Africa’s rapidly changing business environment.”
GIK/APA